By Maggie D., Washington.
Her smile was as great
Big and beautiful as
A sunrise above the
Grand Canyon
Gripping the
Stars and Stripes
The Pledge of Allegiance
Was softly spoken
Without a hint of hesitation
Her human spirit
Held onto a future
Hope
Of making her free
From the tyranny
She once experienced
With a salute to her
Deepest desires of what
She was about to
Become
—Maggie D., retired educator and African American poet, Washington.
By Maggie D., Washington
Summer time is here
Gardens to tend
Money to spend
For back to school
Clothes
That are not too old
Bought at the thrift store
Some will need mending
Others will profit from
Two washes
My gosh
Summer is passing
As quick as a wink
When I think of the
Days disappearing among
The harvested corn
And winter squash
—maggie d., retired educator and African American poet, Washington. She adds: “Summer Work errupted from memories of my grandmother’s farm in Oklahoma.”
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By Carleen Cifton Bragg, African American Photographer, Illinois.
“I live in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood. There are three beautiful small lakes near where I live. Sometimes, I visit the park with a cup of my morning coffee. Sitting on the bench by the water, I gaze at the still water and the geese enjoying their group gatherings, and naturally, I smile. Watching the geese swimming makes me happy. It’s the most beautiful cornerstone in the neighborhood that I depend on as a quick getaway. It is my home away from home. In the autumn, it’s especially breathtaking! I call this ‘My Peace Spot’ for the tranquility it offers me. Last autumn, I took some of the most stunning photographs here!
“I developed an interest in photography at the age of five. I credit my parents for planting the seeds when they purchased me my first camera. They have continued to support my interest in photography over the years. I started as a self-taught photographer, but later trained with the New York Institute of Photography. I try to capture sports moments, glamour, landscapes, music, theater, and street life. I am enamored with the works of the ‘late greats’ like Gordon Parks and James Van Der Zee.
“My photos have been published by Tyler Perry’s Production: Why Did I Get Married?, Today’s Photographer Magazine, and the International Library of Photography. I am a three time-winner of the Museum of Science and Industry’s Black Creativity. I also had a solo exhibit—my first One-Woman show in 2011 at the ARC Gallery in Chicago, Illinois.”
To observe the annual Black History Month, we are pleased to present “Resilience,” a poem by Arianna Shaprow Crain, age 12, a seventh grader in Nevada. Arianna was interviewed this morning and was asked to read her poem by KTNV News, on their ‘Good Morning Las Vegas’ show. The poem will also be published in our upcoming Spring 2024 issue (Mar. – Aug. 2024). You can also download the poem here.
“Resilience” explores the African Diaspora and chronicles the struggles of the vibrant, defiant members of my family. In the midst of our tragedies, my ancestors were able to find peace and navigate the rough terrain that lie ahead. They were slaves in Holly Springs, Mississipi. After the Emancipation Proclamation, they migrated to Chicago for more opportunities. In Chicago, they had to endure racism and segregation, which negatively impacted their employment. My great grandmother became a maid at a hotel and raised 13 children. She had to endure an endless cycle of poverty. Much of our history was lost, because we were stolen from our homeland. Even though our cultural identities were dismantled, my ancestors found comfort in music, stories, and our love for one another. We are resilient, and we are survivors. I know that I am a survivor, because I am here to tell you my story.
We were taken
from our homelands
our prosperity and sense of community
stolen from us
our families torn apart
cultural identities dismantled
forgotten…
forced to work all day
beneath the blistering hot sun
dehydrated and burned out
bruised knees, scraped elbows
wounded from whips
desperately yearning for a way out
but their cries were never heard
They locked us
in an endless loop of poverty
mental illness
disease
and depression
from Holly Springs, Mississippi
and the shackles of slavery
to Chicago
seeking independence
and “liberty”
this was the journey of my ancestors
We were never freed
after the Emancipation Proclamation
never freed
from generational trauma
and pain
rejected
from schools
unable to receive the education
that we deserved
Oppression
Segregation
Stereotypes
and racism
Poverty naturally followed
Haunting us…
A never-ending maze
with no exit
only dead ends.
My relatives suffered
rat bites and tuberculosis as babies
gunshot wounds and addiction as adults
no money for doctors
unstable living conditions
poor ventilation
never knowing
what’s next…
Surviving paycheck to paycheck
Food stamps, welfare
Evictions and discrimination
13 of my aunts and uncles
lived in a tiny apartment
5 slept on a single, soiled mattress
a drumline of tragedies
Many of them
broke the cycle
my grandmother became the first
African American female Assistant District Attorney
in El Paso, Texas
scholarships and hard work paved her way
My mother is a survivor
of PTSD and panic attacks
a single mother who cares for me
with unwavering love
We don’t know
much of our history
or where in Africa
we come from
The knowledge of our history
was stripped away from us
buried deep in our family’s past
it remains a mystery…
One thing that will never
be taken away from us
Is our culture
We have created
a rich culture
Through centuries of oppression
our coping mechanisms
soothed us
comforting melodies
gospel
jazz
blues
and soul
What do we have?
We have our imagination
We redefine and reframe
To make us sane
documents detail our ancestors’ stories
Defiant
And bold
full of vibrant characters
riveting music
and soulful dishes
When I am fearful
I remember to be courageous
I remember I have ancestors
who were beaten and lynched
My ancestors were
Slaves
Survivors
Refugees
Migrants
This is my lineage
This is my history
We are resilient
Resilient survivors
—Arianna Shaprow Crain, age 12, grade 7, Nevada.
Remembering Kwanzza
I announced, “Happy Kwanzza!”
Out of a genuine gesture
Of brotherhood
Without doubting whether I should
To a fellow stranger
Who was not in my brown
Skin
He was filled with wonder when
The words spilled out of my mouth
And asked, “Are you talking to me?”
Of course I am, I replied
It IS about unity and building
Relationships
“Oh!” he said with a startled look
Passing along the surprise in his
Eyes to the multi-heritage child
Whose hand he held
“Happy Kwanzza!” she erupted
Breaking the quiet stillness in
The check-out line
Barely old enough to speak or
Understand
—maggie d., African American poet, Washington.
Summer is here
They say heat is good for
Tomatoes
And wiggling toes in warm
Sand
But ants are trying to tell us
Something
Diligently building mounds of
Dirt between cracks in
Sidewalks
It is going to be a scorcher
I think
I do not want to be a prisoner of
The Sun I hum
Left to find a place to hide from
The hurting burn
City shade is sparse
Do you hear the asphalt whispering
Beware of the sweltering black
Streets?
By maggie d., African American poet, Washington.
As we prepare to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, Soroptimist International of Eugene and Skipping Stones invite youth to share their creative writing that promotes an awareness of Women Discoverers and Inventors from Around the World.
Eligibility: Open to ages 12 to 18 years. Must be a resident of Lane County, Oregon.
Written entries limited to 1,000 words. No smaller than size 12 standard font. Keep a copy for yourself.
Postmark by: January 16, 2024
Prizes: First Place $300.00 * Second Place $200.00 * Third Place $100.00.
Winners will be announced by the end of February and winning submissions will be published in the March 2024 issue of Skipping Stones Magazine. They will receive a one-year subscription to Skipping Stones along with three multicultural books. Winners will be invited to the Soroptimist International of Eugene’s Live Your Dream Awards Dinner in March 2024. All submissions must have a cover letter telling us your name, age, school you attend, and contact information including e-mail address. The Soroptimist Media Consent Form and the Skipping Stones Permission to Publish Form must also be signed and attached.
Send submissions to: Soroptimist International of Eugene PO Box 10664, Eugene, OR 97440
To obtain a flyer and media consent forms please e-mail: sieugene@soroptimist.net SUBJECT: Creative Writing
Ideas to get you started:
The achievements of women discoverers and inventors have served as inspiration for modern-day women. Identify a woman who was/is a discoverer or an inventor. Talk about her accomplishments, achievements and the impact she has or had in her field. How did she shape history? Were there any gender equality obstacles?
What do you admire about her? Why don’t we hear more about women innovators?
About Soroptimist International of Eugene: Soroptimist International of Eugene has been supporting women and girls in Lane County since 1949 to achieve their full potential. Our Vision: Women and girls will have access to resources and opportunities to reach their full potential and live their dreams. Our Mission: Providing women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve social and economic empowerment. Email: sieugene@soroptimist.net or Visit them online.
By mail, Contact: Soroptimist International of Eugene, P.O. Box 10664, Eugene, OR 97440
Princess Diana (1961-1997). Portrait by Jon Bush, Massachusetts.
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997). She was a member of the British Royal Family and mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Her kindness, activism and position made her an international icon.
Dr. Jean Moule (sitting next to Rosa’s statue outside the Eugene LTD Bus Station, above) writes in her Skipping Stones magazine (April – May 2015) column, “Rosa Parks (Feb. 4, 1913 – Oct. 24, 2005) has become a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and an international icon. She is an image of one lone person taking a stance that made a very big difference. She was sitting in a part of the bus that allowed Colored (African American) people unless it was needed for a White rider. When she was asked to move back to make room for a White passenger she would not. Rosa was 42 years old at the time and she was no more tired than anyone would be after a long day of work.
Rosa said, “I did not want to be mistreated, I did not want to be deprived of a seat that I had paid for. It was just time… there was opportunity for me to take a stand to express the way I felt about being treated in that manner. I had not planned to get arrested. I had plenty to do without having to end up in jail. But when I had to face that decision, I didn’t hesitate to do so because I felt that we had endured that too long. The more we gave in, the more we complied with that kind of treatment, the more oppressive it became.”
You can read Professor Jean Moule’s Nana Jean Columns in her latest book, Seeking Warmth and Light. FMI moulej@oregonstate.edu.